My set-up is an elderly NAD amplifier/B&W speakers (fed by an iMAC playing ALAC/AAC via Audirvana+, and into a DACMagic 100 via USB). The speaker’s tweeters are broken and I’m seeing this as an opportunity to replace, rather than repair – and am also conscious of providing an easy means for others in the household to play their music wirelessly from iPads/iPhones, or by controlling the iMac.
The room isn’t a dedicated listening space and one option I’m seriously considering is to completely simplify and exceed my budget on a Naim Mu-so (though only if demos can convince me of a move away from twin speaker soundstage, etc). I do however have some basic Audirvana-related questions, which I’m hoping others may have experience of:
1). I like Audirvana’s upsampling options – and gather that, to use these, I would need a wired connection from the iMac to the Mu-so, as wireless will work at 48kHz only? In Audirvana’s preferences, I think the selected output would either need to be AirPlay (if wireless), or the Mu-So (wired)?
2). For the wired connection, has anyone had any experience of the Mu-So’s USB input versus optical as a sound quality preference? Using optical appears to prevent any output from the iMac’s internal speakers, and so I’d want to avoid unplugging cables if necessary. I’ve assumed I’m unable to use an Ethernet connection, as my router is located in another room.
3). iOS apps: would we continue to be able to use the separate Audirvana app (inc. Tidal), or Remote (for integrated iTunes mode), or be bound to the Naim app?
I’m not sure my understanding of the potential configuration and connections is right, so happy to be corrected, and many thanks in advance for any advice.
Posted on: 05 July 2016 by tonym
Mmm. That sounds too convoluted for my liking. Good though Audirvana is, I suspect, going through the Mu-so, you won't realise much if any of an audio improvement using it. You really would be better off installing something like Minimserver or Asset uPnP software on your Mac and playing direct. Although you can stream wirelessly from the Mac to the Mu-so, you'd be better off hard wiring with Ethernet cable so you can play HD audio files.
Posted on: 05 July 2016 by alan9568
Tony - thanks, and much appreciated - it's good to have useful, helpful comments. I hadn't considered the software you've suggested - it is the case that playing tracks directly from their end file location via something like that is an improvement over dedicated players (either in native mode, or integrated with iTunes)?
A dim question: as my sole internet router (Virgin Superhub) has to be located in another room, the Ethernet connection between the iMac and the Mu-so will only work by adding another router box, or possibly some type of wireless bridge device?
Posted on: 05 July 2016 by tonym
Hi Alan, I'm not familiar with your Virgin Superhub but it will have additional Ethernet sockets (usually coloured yellow) that you can plug a cable into. Although maybe a bit of a fag, it really is worthwhile to hardwire your Mu-so into this. If you're going to do this, you might as well use CAT6 cabling. The Mu-so will operate well on wi-fi, and I'd be surprised if the wi-fi signal doesn't reach into the next room. If that is the case, you can buy various wi-fi extenders. IIRC wi-fi won't allow HD audio but this may not be a problem to you.
Regarding the software; if you go down the Asset/Minimserver route, you'll be using the Mu-so's interface to play your music. The Mu-so utilises Digital Sound Processing for its high-quality audio output & I'd be surprised if going down the Mac/Audirvana/USB route would yield better results.
Posted on: 05 July 2016 by ChrisSU
I agree with Tony that you should put UPnP server software such as Asset or Minim on your computer and connect over Ethernet. By all means try using WiFi, but wired Ethernet is almost certainly going to be better for both stability and sound quality.
If a wired connection all the way to your router is really not possible, buy an Ethernet switch such as a Netgear GS105 for about £20 and connect the computer and Muso through this instead. You would then need a WiFi device of some sort to connect your computer and Muso to your router.
This approach has the advantage that you would control everything through the Naim app including the music stored on your computer, as well as iRadio, Tidal etc.
An alternative approach you could consider is to buy a DAC that would work with your computer and continue to use Audirvana. Naim's DAC V1, or a Chord 2Qute, would be contenders, but there are loads on the market at virtually any price point. Of course, you would then have to repair or replace your speakers too. This might end up costing a bit more than a Muso, but get it right, and you could end up with a system that sounds a lot better for a relatively small extra cost.
